Who are the "hunters" mentioned in Jeremiah 16:16?

Question

Jeremiah 16:16
"But now I will send for many fishermen," declares the LORD, "and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.

I assume the fisherman were the apostles "fishers of men". But who are the hunters? Maybe the Romans who martyred the early Christians?

Answer 1

Jeremiah is prophesying of the soon-coming exile. The first words are "But for now I will send...." The primary application is the imminent exile of the nation to Babylon because of their sin, - not some distant future event.

god bless

Answer 2

Fishing may represent military conquest. (Am 4:2; Hab 1:14, 15) On the other hand, Jesus likened the work of making disciples to fishing for men. (Mt 4:19) Jeremiah 16:16, where the reference is to Jehovah’s ‘sending for many fishers and hunters,’ may be understood either in a favorable or an unfavorable sense. If this text is directly related to verse 15, which speaks about the restoration of the Israelites to their land, then the allusion is to the searching out of the repentant Jewish remnant. Otherwise, the fishers and hunters are enemy forces sent out to find the unfaithful Israelites, thus allowing none of them to escape Jehovah’s judgment.

Answer 3

Fishing in a figurative sense may represent military conquest. (Am 4:2; Hab 1:14, 15) On the other hand, Jesus likened the work of making disciples to fishing for men. (Mt 4:19) Jeremiah 16:16, where the reference is to Jehovah’s ‘sending for many fishers and hunters,’ may be understood either in a favorable or an unfavorable sense. If this text is directly related to verse 15, which speaks about the restoration of the Israelites to their land, then the allusion is to the searching out of the repentant Jewish remnant. Otherwise, the fishers and hunters are enemy forces sent out to find the unfaithful Israelites, thus allowing none of them to escape Jehovah’s judgment.—Compare Eze 9:2-7.

Answer 4

Jeremiah was written before Christ. Jeremiah was a prophet who was commissioned by God to declair God's complaint against Judah. With regard to your question, Jeremiah 16:16 is directly related to verse 15, which speaks about the restoration of the Israelites to their land, so the allusion could be to the searching out of the repentant Jewish remnant. Otherwise, the fishers and hunters are enemy forces sent out to find the unfaithful Israelites, thus allowing none of them to escape Jehovah’s judgment.—Compare Eze 9:2-7.

Answer 5

You are not so far from your theory. Continually being hunted down through this generations. Romans were the first, then the Muslims although they are more concerned in finishing the Jews and if they succedd the Christians will be next. However, before they accomplish their plans, the true hunters will find them and exposed them to the world and will tell how all people of the world have been deceived.

Answer 6

interesting thought question...
The chapter is refering to an upcoming time (from Jeremiah's time) when Isreal would yet again go into captivity. I do not know the time framework of the Bible writings but if you take the chapter as a whole the passage is about someone rounding up all the Isrealites to take them into captivity. It would have nothing to do with New testament times unless it was HOW the Romans came to be in Rulership over the Isrealites in the first place.

Answer 7

The hunters are not the enemy, although the hunted would think so. All I can say is, truth is a moving target, to sin means to miss the mark. The archer must be sure of his aim(intention). The hunters will show you what they have sought. They are truth seekers who have found.

Answer 8

The hunters and fishers are both missionaries who are sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. This scripture is talking about our time, not early Christianity (although it could be both).

Answer 9

Chaldean army

Answer 10

Missionaries. They are to spread the gospel to all the world.